Over the last six years, we’ve asked our readers to rate a city’s “friendliness” in the Readers’ Choice Awards survey, especially with respect to where you felt welcome. Did an outgoing local show you the way? Was the city easy to navigate? Hundreds of thousands of people took the survey this year—see what you had to say about the friendliest cities in the U.S. This article has been updated with the latest winners.

Photo courtesy of Joe Christensen and Conde Nast Traveler

Des Moines, Iowa

Alright, Des Moines, we see you—so do our readers. Aside from the outdoor sculpture garden and trendy East Village, most people commented on the city’s fast-growing community of both retirees and millennials. Aside from being a haven for architecture lovers (hello, Frank Lloyd Wright), Des Moines also happens to host the Iowa State Fair—one of the best in the country—every summer. Maybe such close proximity to deep-fried Twinkies gives the locals their friendly edge?